1
as in to arch
to cause to turn away from a straight line
she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention
bent herself to the task for the rest of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to distort
to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of
attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bend
Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 July 2025
India’s moment of full assertion may still lie ahead, but its ability to bend without breaking, to engage without surrender, is not a sign of strategic failure.
—Nirupama Rao, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2025
arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
The weather is turning warmer and spring is fast approaching in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, which means summer break is just around the bend.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Verb
In the course of a few weeks, Paramount has bent the knee and paid $16 million to Donald Trump to resolve a frivolous lawsuit, giving him a huge victory over CBS News.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 July 2025
India’s moment of full assertion may still lie ahead, but its ability to bend without breaking, to engage without surrender, is not a sign of strategic failure.
—Nirupama Rao, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2025
Noun
This 550-foot sheer cliff overlooks a sweeping bend in the Buffalo River.
—arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
The weather is turning warmer and spring is fast approaching in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, which means summer break is just around the bend.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for bend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bend
Verb
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Like claws to the earth, mangrove roots arched their way into the marsh, thirsty for the nutrients St. Lucia had to offer.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
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Softly arching habit of growth that melds into its surroundings?—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Alves devoted part of that speech to the wonders of this country by providing the blessings of freedom and opportunity to people like him.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
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This year, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence stood up the Open-Source Intelligence Subcommittee, the first ever congressional body devoted specifically to an intelligence discipline.—
Ann Wagner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The brand's reach aims to strengthen its connection with Generation Z consumers after being named the No. 1 fragrance brand for American teens and the third overall most-shopped at beauty stores by teens in the Piper Sandler Taking Stock with Teens Spring 2025 Survey.—
Greta Cross,
Freep.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Dozens of storms have traveled north offshore, often curving completely away from the coast without making landfall in the mainland United States or in Canada, but some leave damage in their wakes, in the form of erosion, coastal flooding and even deaths from rough seas.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
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Her blonde locks were styled into tight barrel curls, while her bangs curved outward to the sides of her face.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In The Harvard Gazette, psychiatrist Mark Epstein explained how the ego distorts reality by tying us to fear and desire, which clouds our ability to truly see what’s happening.—
Wilson Luna,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Last week, a user was even able to prompt it to deliver a profane rant against Musk and others for trying distort the reality of the Israel-Hamas war.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Lee Hall is still attached to complete the screenplay.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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Sharon, as well as her and Ozzy’s children, Jack and Aimee Osbourne, were attached to produce alongside Polygram’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman and Sony’s Andrea Giannetti.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The findings suggest that curvature, rather than complete linearity, is more common in slip paths.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 July 2025
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Finally, weather radar beams and their ability to detect storms are affected by Earth’s curvature.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
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The National Hurricane Center’s Wednesday mid-morning forecast track now shows a tilt north on Monday, a move that — for now — keeps Puerto Rico and some of the eastern Caribbean islands directly out of the cone of uncertainty.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
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Its best hope may be nudging the United Nations to a less Western tilt.—
Nick Thomas,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bend. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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